WAYANAD (Kerala), (IANS): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday chaired an
all-party meeting at Wayanad, which witnessed the state's worst-ever natural
disaster as landslides devastated the area late on Tuesday night, leaving at
least 281 dead and 200 missing and scores of habitations wiped out, thanked the
massive efforts of the multi-pronged rescue team comprising over 1,200
professionals.
The massive rescue operation, involving personnel from
all three defence forces, police, disaster relief agencies, and fire services,
besides locals and volunteers, is currently on at the four worst-affected
landslide areas of Wayanad -- Churalpara, Velarimala, Mundakayil, and
Pothukalu.
Vijayan said the army has informed him that there is no
chance of any more survivors in the worst-affected areas. However, a bailey
bridge at Churalmala is now ready and will enable big earth-moving equipment to
reach places which have been cut off.
"Now the need of the hour is for a proper
rehabilitation programme and for that we have already started to work on it. We
do have a good experience of handling rehabilitation and hence it will be
done," he said.
More than 8,000 people have been evacuated safely and put
up in 82 relief camps.
"With regards to the rehabilitation process, the
relief camps will be functioning for a while as it will take time. Hence we
have decided to cordon off the camp sites and they will be out of bounds for
the media. Those people, who wish to see the members in the camps, can meet
them only at the reception area. None other than the inmates of the camps will
be allowed inside," Vijayan said, adding that nothing from outside will be
distributed in the camps as the officials will ensure everything is given
through a central distribution process.
"With regards to the education of the children in
the camps. It has been decided all students in the affected areas can continue
their education under the online method and it will be done from the place
where they are put up. All those who lost their certificates will be given new
ones," he said.
"The mental trauma is huge and hence counselling
will be given and it has already begun. Tribal families are reluctant to come
out from their surroundings and hence we will ensure food items are supplied to
them. Now that a huge disaster has happened, we cannot afford another disaster,
especially in a possible outbreak of an epidemic and for this purpose, all
people should cooperate with the health officials. Disposal of dead animals is
a challenge and it will be done in the right manner," he said.
The Chief Minister even since the disaster occurred, 12
cabinet ministers are at Wayanad and now we have decided to set up a
four-member Cabinet sub-committee comprising of Ministers of Revenue, Forest,
Public Works, and SC/ST."
"We have asked to declare this as a national
disaster... it’s now the Centre to decide and we will wait for it," he
added.
Expressing his displeasure at attempts to play politics,
Vijayan said: "Even in this massive tragedy, some people are playing
spoilsports and are trying to create problems, the best is such people should
be ignored." However, he did not elaborate.
